Survey: 42 percent described themselves as conservative

A recent survey of 1,000 likely American voters showed 42 percent described themselves as conservative on fiscal issues.

The 42 percent identified themselves as conservatives on issues such as taxes, government spending and business regulation, while 21 percent are liberal in this area and 34 percent view themselves as moderates.

But when it comes to social issues such as abortion, public prayer and church-state topics, only 33 percent are conservative, 36 percent describe themselves as liberal and 27 percent are self-described moderates in terms of social issues.

Putting it all together, 26 percent of voters are conservative on both fiscal and social issues, while 16 percent are liberal in both areas and 58 percent are some other combination of the two.

Generally speaking, these attitudes have changed little in regular surveying for the last three years.